Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

What’s the Story?

It's 1912 and young Indiana Jones (River Phoenix) risks his life to save Coronado's Cross. But his father (Sean Connery) is not impressed. We jump to 1938 and Indie (Harrison Ford) discovers that his father has vanished while searching for the coveted Holy Grail. Off to Venice, where Indy is followed by a secret brotherhood dedicated to maintaining the secret of the Grail. Indy finds his father, but Nazis kidnap them both. They escape to Berlin to find a missing diary and (literally) run into Hitler. After fleeing an airship and engaging in a dogfight, father and son head to the desert to beat the Nazis to the Grail. After a remarkable chase with a tank, Indy's dad is shot and Indy must get to the Grail in order to save his father's life.

Is It Any Good?

The chemistry between Harrison Ford and Sean Connery is fun to watch. Both actors have impeccable timing and are obviously enjoying themselves. While some of Indy's previous sidekicks were annoying, Connery's character is a worthy companion and foil. Since father and son have a past, you care about their relationship.

This installment also includes the return Indiana Jones' milder mannered side -- a hero who can be tremendously awkward when not battling bad guys or untangling ancient mysteries. Much of the movie's success is due to a tongue-in-cheek attitude that begins when young Indy -- played by an intense River Phoenix -- can't find the rest of his Scout troop and loudly declares that "everyone is lost but me." Ahh, that's the Indiana Jones we know and love.